Automated Detection of Breast Cancer Using Artificial Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic

Our aim was to develop a diagnostic system that could classify breast tumors as either malignant or benign to provide a faster and more reliable method for patients. In order to accomplish this, we built two systems: one is based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) with a resilient back propagation and the other is based on fuzzy logic. We used the dataset provided by the University of California Irvine (UCI) Machine Learning Repository: the Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer (WDBC) dataset which describes characteristics of the cell nuclei presented in the images. The dataset is composed of features computed from digitized images of a Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) of the breast mass. The system is based on ANN and was built using a feed-forward neural network with a Resilient Back Propagation (Rprop) algorithm that used to train the network, the number of hidden layers and hidden neurons determined by performing experiments and selecting the highest architectural accuracy. In order to obtain general architecture and to identify the accuracy of this system, we used ten-folds cross validation. The second system is based on fuzzy logic, and we built a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). The decision tree was used to define the membership functions and the rules. The experiments were performed on two types of FIS: Sugeno-type and Mamdani-type. For the system based on ANN, Feed-Forward Neural Network presented the highest accuracy at 97.6%. While for fuzzy system, Sugeno FIS showed the highest accuracy at 94.8%. Since breast tumors, both malignant and benign, share structural similarities, the process of their detection is extremely difficult and time consuming if it is to be manually classified. Laboratory analysis or biopsies of the tumor is a manual, time consuming process yet it is accurate system of prediction. It is, however, prone to human errors. Consequently, a need of creating an automated system to provide a faster and more reliable method of diagnosis and prediction for patients is rising. In this paper, we developed two kinds of artificial intelligence systems that can help physicians to classify breast cancer tumors as either malignant or benign

Pyrolysis kinetics of tetrabromobisphenol a (TBBPA) and electric arc furnace dust mixtures

This work assesses the decomposition kinetics and the overall pyrolysis behavior of Tetrabromobisphynol A (TBBPA) mixed with Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) using experimental data from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mixtures of both materials with varying EAFD:TBBPA ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4) were pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere under dynamic heating conditions at different heating rates (5, 10, 30 and 50 °C/min). The pyrolysis of pure TBBPA proceeded through two decomposition steps: debromination and volatilization of debromination products. This is followed by char formation that also involves release of volatile organic matter. However, the pyrolysis of EAFD:TBBPA mixture proves to be more complex in nature due to the occurrence of parallel solid-liquid reactions that result in the release of HBr and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) coupled with bromination of metal oxides. Subsequent chemical events encompass evaporation of metal bromides and finally reduction of the remaining metal oxides, most notably iron oxide, into their metallic form by the char. Three models, namely, Kissinger, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), were deployed to derive kinetics parameters. Generally, it was found that the presence of EAFD has led to an increase in the apparent activation energy for the first stage of TBBPA decomposition due to the reduced evaporation of TBBPA

Thermal analysis on the pyrolysis of tetrabromobisphenol A and electric arc furnace dust mixtures

The pyrolysis of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) mixed with electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and theoretically analyzed using thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Mixtures of both materials with varying TBBPA loads (1:1 and 1:3) were prepared and pyrolyzed in a nitrogen atmosphere under dynamic heating conditions at heating rates of 5 and 10 °C/min. The mixtures degraded through several steps, including decomposition of TBBPA yielding mainly HBr, bromination of metal oxides, followed by their evaporation in the sequence of CuBr3, ZnBr2, PbBr2, FeBr2, MnBr2, KBr, NaBr, CaBr2, and MgBr2, and finally reduction of the remaining metal oxides by the char formed from decomposition of TBBPA. Thermodynamic calculations suggest the possibility of selective bromination of zinc and lead followed by their evaporation, leaving iron in its oxide form, while the char formed may serve as a reduction agent for iron oxides into metallic iron. However, at higher TBBPA volumes, iron bromide forms, which can also be evaporated at a temperature higher than those of ZnBr2 and PbBr2. Results from this work provide practical insight into selective recovery of valuable metals from EAFD while at the same time recycling the hazardous bromine content in TBBPA

Treatments of electric arc furnace dust and halogenated plastic wastes: A review

This paper reviews the latest research findings on the combined treatment of both electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) and halogenated plastic wastes, mainly polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame-retardants (BFRs). EAFD contains heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Fe, Cd, etc.); its disposal using the traditional landfilling method threatens the environment. On the other hand, halogenated plastic wastes accumulate annually at an alarming rate due to their excessive production, consumption, and disposal. PVC, for example, does not decompose naturally; it remains one of the most dangerous plastics, as it contains high proportions of chlorine that is responsible for hazardous emissions of chlorinated organic compounds (dioxins) and hydrochloric acid vapour. Recent research have focused on the combined treatment of PVC/BFRs and EAFD. HCl/HBr acids produced from the pyrolysis of PVC/BFRs can react with the metal oxides in the EAFD to convert them into readily separable metal halides. Alternatively, several researches illustrated the advantages of using additives such as metal oxides during the incineration treatment of waste PVC/BFRs to fix gaseous HCl/HBr, and consequently, EAFD would be considered an excellent and cheap candidate for PVC dechlorination, as well as dehalogenation of other halogenated plastics during thermal recycling processes. In this review we critically discuss literature findings on thermal treatment of PVC/BFR materials under oxidative and pyrolytic environments, typically at temperatures of 200–900 °C in presence of metal oxides or EAFD. We also discuss the treatment/disposal routes for both waste materials (EAFD and halogenated plastic wastes) and the environmental impact of these disposal options. The review, finally, proposes the research necessary to minimize the hazards of these waste materials; Several future research areas were identified including the need to study the behaviour of real EAFD-plastic waste mixtures under oxidative thermal conditions with focus on both the selective recovery of metals and identification, quantification, and minimization of halogenated organic compounds released during the combined thermal treatment

New flavonol glycoside from <i>Scabiosa prolifera</i> L. aerial parts with <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

<p>Phytochemical investigation of the chemical constituents of the aerial parts of <i>Scabiosa prolifera</i> L. led to the isolation of one new flavonol glycoside, kaempferol-3-O-(4″,6″-di-E-<i>p</i>-coumaroyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (<b>1</b>), along with ten other known compounds including luteolin-7-O-(2″-O-ethyl-β-glucopyranoside), β-sitosterol, β-sitosterylglucoside, ursolic acid, corosolic acid, ursolic acid 3-O-β-D-arabinopyranoside, apigenin, methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside and isoorientin. The structures of all isolated compounds were established using chemical methods and spectroscopic methods including IR, UV, NMR (1D and 2D) and HRESIMS. All compounds were isolated for the first time from the plant. The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were also investigated.</p